An Adelaide man who killed his stepfather by stabbing him more than 80 times has been found not guilty of murder because of mental impairment.
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Samuel John Willis Caldwell was charged with murdering Kenneth Raymond Thomson, 63, at Oaklands Park in July 2017.
Justice Martin Hinton on Monday ruled Caldwell was experiencing psychotic symptoms as a result of his schizophrenia when he repeatedly stabbed Mr Thomson.
"In consequence (he) was unable to reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure about the wrongfulness of his conduct," the judge said in his published decision.
On the night of his death, Mr Thomson dialled triple zero and told an operator "I've been stabbed" in the neck and stomach.
Officers arrived at the house to find Caldwell unarmed and covered in blood, and Mr Thomson lying on the floor of a bedroom alongside a bloodstained knife.
"Samuel Caldwell had stabbed or wounded Kenneth Thomson upwards of 80 times to his face, scalp, neck, right shoulder, trunk and upper limbs using a large kitchen knife," Justice Hinton said.
"Mr Thomson died from the consequential loss of blood he sustained."
Justice Hinton committed Cardwell to detention in a mental health facility for life.
Australian Associated Press
